Tensioning device for covers



June 12, 1934. s BOYD 1,962,730

TENSIONING DEVICE FOR COVERS Filed July 26, 1933 lnl en for Edward 5. Boyd A 7 form sf Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT FFifiE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to holders and.

the invention having particular application as a holding device for removable covers for ironing boards and the like.

I am fully aware that similar devices have been heretofore developed; the blanket clamp disclosed in Patent No. 914,63? to Coe being exemplary of such devices. However, it is the object of the present invention to provide a device of the above character which may be inexpensively manufactured yet is more efficient and flexible in its operation and adjustment than those previously developed. Through the use of a holder of the herein disclosed type, the number required may be materially reduced because of the increased tensioning capacity and at the same time the covering material is more uniformly maintained because of the equalizing characteristics of the holder in material tensioning position.

Other objects and advantages reside in the novel combination and arrangement and construction of parts as will be more fully described. The invention is clearly defined in the claims.

In the drawing wherein the preferred form of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of illustration,

Fig. 1 is a plane view of the under side of an ironing board equipped with my improved type of covering material holder.

Fig. 2 is a plane view of the holder detached from the covering material.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2.

Generally, my improved holder or fastener consists of a pair of spaced equalizing bars between which extends a longitudinally extensible resilient member preferably in the form of a helical spring. This member has pivotal connections at its opposite ends with a pair of equalizing bars. Suitable members for engaging and clamping or tensioning the covering material have pivotal connections with the equalizing bars at spaced points upon opposite sides of the pivotal connections between the equalizing bars and the longitudinal extensible member. The members for engaging covering material are preferably of the pin type which impinge the material. However, other suitable types of engagement may be had with the covering material for maintaining it in a smooth condition upon an ironing board, for example. For instance, the material engaging members attached to the equalizing bars may clamp the covering material at spaced points against the sides of the board in a manner similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,737,300 to Dayton.

Having specific reference to the drawing, in Fig. 1, the ironing board 1 is illustrated as being provided with some sort of covering material 2 which in most cases will be fabric sheeting. As 9 is well understood, the sheeting covers the face and edges of the board 1 with the longitudinal edges extending a suflicient distance inwardly at the under side to be engaged by'the holders 3.

For the purpose of illustrating the equalizing action of the holder members in the various ways in which the pivoted covering material engaging members may be manipulated to eifectively tension the material upon the board, a considerably greater number of holders 3 are shown employed in Fig. 1 than is necessary in actual practice in order to satisfactorily retain the covering material in position.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the holder 3 preferably consists of a closely wound helical spring 4 with the ends thereof loosely passed through apertures 5 of the equalizing bars 6 providing eyes 7 which effect a pivotal connection between the spring 4 and the equalizing bars 6. The bars 6 which may be of any suitable configuration are illustrated as being of flat elongated sections of uniform cross section. Apertures 8 are provided adjacent the opposite ends of the bars 6 and in most cases are preferably spaced equidistant from the aperture 5. Covering material engaging members 9 are illustrated as being of the pin fastener type which readily impinge the covering material for tensioning and holding the same upon the board under the stress of the spring 4. These members have pivotal connections with the bars 6 through the loose insertion of one end of the members 9 through the apertures 8 to form eye portions 10. It is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the location of the pivotal connections between the spring 4 and equalizing bars 6 midway between the pivotal connections between the equalizing bars 6 and the members 9. Obviously under certain conditions it may be advantageous that a greater portion of the stress of the spring 4 be distributed to one of the members 9 than to the other. Furthermore, other ways of providing pivotal connections between the equalizing bars 6 and the spring 4 and members 9, respectively, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. No attempt has been made herein to illustrate the various other ways that are contemplated as it is thought sufficient to merely illustrate the essential principles of the invention as carried out in one very inexpensive and efiicient manner.

In the operation of the holders above described, the members 9 may be fanned out or in substantially parallel relationship depending upon the extent of the covering to be tensioned by any one holder. This is thought to be clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. It is of course understood that in the en agement of the covering material adjacent the edges ofthe board 1 that the spring 4 is placed under sufiicient tension to maintain the cover in a smooth state. It should also be readily apparent that irrespective of the relative position of the points of impingement or. the members 9 with the covering material that the equalizing bars will adjust themselves to. uniformly distribute the stress of the spring to, the members 9 with a result that the covering material is uniformly tensioned upon the face of the board and maintained in a smooth state throughout.

'As'isclearly illustrated by the lowermost holder shown in Fig. L, the equalizing effect of' the bars- 6 will permit the members 9-to be positioned.

ina manner-effecting the tensioning of: the covering material at the sides and: end of the board by a'single holder. 'It is this characteristic'that makes it possible: for relatively few holders to uniformly-andeiiiciently tension the entire coveringmaterial upon the board.

1 Having clearly described my invention, what I' claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

- 1-. Aholder for ironing board covers andthe like comprising a'longitudinal extensible resilient member, spaced equalizing bars having pivotal.

connections with opposite ends of said member, cover engaging members connected to saidequalizingbars, said. members having pivotal connections with said bars upon opposite. sides of said first pivotal connections.

A holder for ironing board covers and the likecomprising. a longitudinal extensible resilient member, equalizing bars having pivotal connec tions with said member at the ends thereof, fabric engaging members having pivotal connections at their inner ends at the opposite ends of said bars, said first pivotal connections being equally spaced between said second pivotal connections.

3. A holder for ironing board covers and the like comprising a helical spring, elongated equalizing bars apertured at the ends and intermediate thereof, eyeslocated at the opposite endsof said spring loosely engaged within said intermediate apertures in said bars constituting pivots, and cover engaging members having eyes at the inner ends loosely engaging the end apertures of said bars to constitute pivots.

4. A holder tor ironing board covers and the like comprising a longitudinally extensible spring, a pair of elongated equalizing bars having pivotal connections with the ends of said spring centrally thereof, and cover impinging members having pivotal connections with said bars at opposite sides of said pivotal connections between, said spring. and bars.

5.A holder for ironing board. covers and: the. like comprising a longitudinally extensible spring 19 having eyes located at opposite ends, a pair. of elongated equalizing bars. having centrally. located openings, cover impinging members. hook; shaped at the outer ends and having eyes at, the: inner end, openings in. said bars equallyv spaced upon opposite sidesof; said first openings, the 'eyes of said spring and cover. impinging. members being loosely engaged: in said. openings of said barsv to form pivots.

6; A holder for ironing board covers: and. the

having pivoted; interconnections. therewith; be:--

tween said spaced points.

EDWARD S; BOYD, 

